Deep Blue Project: Oyetola Vows to Sustain Zero Piracy Incidence in Nigerian Waterways
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Thursday, expressed his commitment to sustaining the gains of the Deep Blue Project, with a view to ensuring maximum security of the country’s maritime domain.
Similarly, the minister, alongside his counterpart in the Defence ministry, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, also inaugurated the Armoured Vehicle workshop, in Elele, Rivers State.
This is even as Oyetola congratulated the 2024 graduates of the Advanced Combat Training programme of the Maritime Security Unit under the Deep Blue Project.
Initiated by the Federal Government and led by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Deep Blue Project addresses the complex security challenges in Nigeria’s waterways.
Oyetola, during his address at the occasion in 5 BnNA Barracks Elele, promised to sustain zero piracy incidence in Nigerian waters with the combined effort of all key players, just as he commended the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola for carrying on from where his predecessor left off.
He said, “Since the full deployment of the Deep Blue platforms and assets in 2021 within the Nigerian Continental Shelf, maritime security has been significantly enhanced.
“The project has contributed immensely to the significant reduction in piracy and other maritime crimes, thus enhancing safety and security in Nigerian waters.
“Sequel to this, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has removed Nigeria from the Piracy Hot List. The achievement of zero piracy incidence in Nigerian waters since 2022 is quite commendable and we are committed to sustaining this with the combined effort of all key players.
“It is to be noted that the United Nations Security Council, at its 905th meeting, acknowledged the progress made by Nigeria in maritime security concerning the contributions of the deep blue project,” Oyetola said.
The minister commended the technical expertise and competence of the Maritime Security Unit and the trainers of the graduating students, noting their exemplary precision and skill displayed during the shooting range demonstrations.
He said, “The Deep Blue Project is based on a unique predictive maritime analytics system, providing comprehensive monitoring of the entire Nigerian Continental Shelf, generating alerts on potential events, and thereby providing complete situational awareness for its users.
“The recent extension of Nigeria’s continental shelf from 200 to 220 nautical miles has again widened our collective responsibility of ensuring that we harness the vast potentials in our waters and protect our marine resources against potential threats,” Oyetola said.
The former Osun state governor, while commending the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces, assured them of continued support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he said had shown unwavering commitment to maritime security initiatives.
“President Tinubu’s leadership and vision have been instrumental in our journey so far, and we are confident that his administration will continue to provide the necessary support and resources to ensure the enduring safety and security in our waters,” Oyetola said.
Despite the downpour, the minister and other stakeholders also witnessed the Tactical Shooting drills, Operational Demonstration with Special Mission Helicopters and Armoured Vehicles.
